Getting to grips with the aliens

THERE’S no denying that the appearance of another book on UFOs provokes a mixed reaction – a thrill followed by a yawn. Edward Ashpole’s The UFO Phenomena (Headline, £18.99, ISBN O 7472 1246 5) opens with the alleged landing of a space vehicle in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, in 1980, which he claims to be the most reliable, apparently witnessed by US Air Force personnel and others. There were the usual happenings, such as floodlights strangely failing and radio communications not working. One of the strongest reasons for calling Rendlesham the best case is, says Ashpole, that it was investigated by teams of competent, experienced military men.

Seasoned readers will expect claims that there was an official cover-up. But the author suggests that any cover-up could be rather sophisticated. Officialdom would allow for the possibility that aliens do visit this planet. So a trickle of disclosures appears ...

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